> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Campbell football followed blueprint to get back to D3 title game
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/campbell-football-followed-blueprint-to-get-back-to-d3-title-game/
- Published: 2018-11-16T17:30:15.000Z
- Updated: 2018-11-16T17:30:15.000Z
- Description: Glen Costello knew what he was getting when he took over as the Campbell High School football head coach. Costello, who had run the defense under previous coach Greg Gush, knew what the Cougars had to go through in 2017 to win the Division III championship. And he knew that, aside from a new starter
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division III-IV, Campbell, Division III, football, NH High School Sports Insider, playoffs, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

Glen Costello knew what he was getting when he took over as the Campbell High School football head coach.

Costello, who had run the defense under previous coach Greg Gush, knew what the Cougars had to go through in 2017 to win the Division III championship. And he knew that, aside from a new starter here and there, he had most of that championship roster back.

But replicating what last year's team had done, that was going to be another story.

"We had the mindset that we needed to stay as healthy as possible and not look too big picture," Costello said. "The kids bought into the system, they played very hard at times. Other times, we bit ourselves with penalties and such. Overall, it's a long season, but the kids were able to maintain focus."

That focus has gotten No. 3 Campbell back to the D3 title game, where the Cougars will take on No. 1 Monadnock in a rematch of last year's championship game. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at the University of New Hampshire.

Healthy might be a bigger question for Campbell, as junior Keegan Mills, the team's leading rusher and a starter on defense, might miss the game after leaving the semifinal win over Stevens with an ankle injury.

If Mills can't go, the Cougars will again turn to Connor Sweeney, who scored the only touchdown in last week's 8-0 win over the Cardinals. Sweeney saw significant time as a sophomore last year, but missed the championship game after an injury in the semifinals.

"He contributed a ton last year, but didn't get any recognition," Costello said of Sweeney. "He played every game as a sophomore except the championship game. Everyone at Campbell knows who he is, and everyone who has watched him, knows he's one of the best athletes on the field."

With last year's experiences under the Cougars' belts, Costello has been able to keep practice this week as close to business as usual as possible.

"For these guys, it's another week of practice," he said. "They're pretty loose, which they always are. They're locked in when they need to be locked in.

"At times, (coming off a championship) may have been a hindrance, but we were able to get back on track with that and knew once playoffs rolled around, it's time to play."

Monadnock won the regular season meeting, 36-14 on Oct. 19, snapping what had been an 18-game winning streak for the Cougars. That 14 points was the second most the Huskies have allowed this season, as they have averaged 6.1 points surrendered per game this year.

"I think it's going to be an uphill battle," Costello said. "I think we're going to have play our best game of the year. We have to make sure we don't give them opportunities and take advantage of ours. They're a tough team to score against and to stop."